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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Medical personnel overwhelmed by public encouragement

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) - Prayer warriors packed the parking lots outside Alexandria's two major hospitals to ask God’s protection over health care personnel Thursday, April 2. Motorists at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Rapides Medical Center tuned in their radios at 6:50 p.m. Thursday to the song “Way Maker,” and flashed their headlights toward both hospitals. Medical personnel returned the gesture by lifting their hands in praise and waving toward the crowd. The event was part of a nationwide movement of motorists gathering for prayer at hospitals across America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO8L03X29b8 … [Read more...]

CARES Act loans available for churches, evangelists

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor WASHINGTON, D.C. (LBM)—Congress has approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus impact aid bill that provides economic relief to workers and businesses; and, because of the work of many concerned lawmakers, these provisions extend also to 501(c)(3) entities, which include churches, Christian schools and other religious bodies. Importantly, evangelists are eligible for the payroll protection loans provided in the legislation, too. Basically, churches and other Christian ministries may receive a loan equal to 2.5 times the 12-month average of all salary costs. Essentially, this means each nonprofit will receive a loan equal to 2.5 months of payroll costs. Up to 100 percent of these loans may be forgiven, based on employee retention. There are two timeframes (either Jan. 1, 2020, through Feb. 29, 2020; or, Feb. 15, 2019, through June 30, 2019) for calculating the baseline monthly average of employees and this figure will be compared to the average number of employees still employed during the month of June 2020. The percentage of retention will amount to the percentage of the loan that will be forgiven. The U.S. Treasury has issued guidance that can be found using the URL, … [Read more...]

Evangelists set to livestream Easter message

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists has planned a special online outreach event Easter weekend. The one-hour program will be livestreamed on Facebook, April 9 at 7 p.m., and will be available on-demand throughout the weekend. The special broadcast will feature music and a message by COSBE President Sammy Tippit, who will co-host the meeting with Richard Hamlet, president and CEO of Global Ministries Foundation in Memphis, Tenn. The event, “Covered by the Cross,” will feature the powerful stories of men and women who found a place of hope at the cross. Luke Hockenjos of Haughton, and Keith Fordham and Kim Stanely, both of Fayetteville, Ga., are among those who will share their testimonies. Musicians Joe and Kim Stanley, Russell and Kristi Johnson, all of Conway, S.C., and Amy Stockwell, of Katy, Texas, will lead a time of worship by song. Tippit will conclude the evening with an invitation to follow Christ. COSBE has asked for churches, associations and state conventions to partner and participate in the effort by sharing the video on their websites or Facebook pages, or by requesting a link for the organization’s Vimeo channel that also will livestream the … [Read more...]

You are doing great, Louisiana Baptists!

By Steve Horn ALEXANDRIA, (LBM)--You might be tired of hearing that we are living in unprecedented days, and, of listening to endless reports about the crisis, quarantine, social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and flattening the curve. I know I am. So, how about some good news? Our churches are responding to the challenge with online worship, online giving, online Sunday school, and online prayer meetings. [I haven’t heard of an online dinner on the grounds, but I’m ready when someone tries that!] Others are doing drive-in church. We are at our best when our motto is: “Whatever it takes!” And you know what? You are doing great Louisiana Baptists! Louisiana Baptists also are providing real solutions to real problems in other ways: -- Louisiana College’s Pre-Engineering Department is making protective face shields and masks for hospitals. -- Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief has established a prayer line, distributed at least 24,000 N-95 respirators, and are participating in food distribution. -- Our Business Office, in cooperation with our Office of Public Policy and Communications Team, is helping associations and churches interpret the CARES Act which provides financial assistance for churches. You … [Read more...]

Louisiana College launches telehealth resource for students

By Norm Miller, LCNews PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews)—Difficulties posed by social distancing, travel restrictions, and the shift in established routines are unsettling. Add to the mix personal health concerns, and the reasons Louisiana College launched a telehealth service for students on March 30 become apparent. “Because our primary concern is the health and well-being of the Louisiana College family, we are providing free telehealth service to our students,” said Louisiana College President Dr. Rick Brewer. “With the necessity of online classes comes the separation of our campus community, but I want students to know they are not separated from our compassion and concern.” Louisiana College partnered with TimelyMD, which hosts Campus.Health. Available via smartphone or any web-enabled device, students have 24/7 unlimited free access to professional health advice and licensed counselors. Whether students are feeling sick or overwhelmed, they can talk to Campus.Health medical providers -- who can diagnose common conditions (cold, flu, sinus infection) -- and licensed counselors that offer students a safe space to talk about anything at any time, whether COVID-19 or any other mental stressor. All Campus.Health counselors are … [Read more...]

Governor’s office clarifies guidelines for ‘drive in’ church

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM)—Responding to questions regarding guidance about the “drive in” service many churches are conducting, Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn contacted the governor’s office for clarification about how state mandates about public gatherings apply in this instance. “I am grateful that Louisiana Baptist churches have made news for innovation in providing worship during this crisis rather than our non-compliance or outright defiance,” Horn told the Baptist Message. “I learned that the proclamation does not prohibit individuals from driving to their houses of worship for such services.” Horn said Adren Wilson, the governor’s deputy chief of staff for programs and planning, stated this type of service was “a reasonable solution if strict practices are followed,” which include: -- worshipers may not exit their cars for any reason and must keep windows up; -- restroom facilities on campus must remain closed; -- no one may sit in the bed of a truck; and, -- lawn chairs may not be used on church grounds. Horn was positive about the conversation and urged Louisiana Baptists to comply with the guidelines. “Let’s continue to be good neighbors, … [Read more...]

Shreveport abortion clinic refuses to close amid statewide order

By Brian Gunter POLLOCK, La. - Churches and businesses across Louisiana have complied with the Governor’s order to close all non-essential businesses. We are taking this global pandemic seriously because millions of Americans are expected to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to die. One pastor in the entire state of Louisiana refused to close his church, and yesterday law enforcement issued a summons for him to appear in court for violating the Governor’s order. To be clear, Pastor Tony Spell has been foolish and reckless by continuing to gather large crowds into his church during a pandemic. And yet one abortion clinic in Louisiana, Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, is still open today and performing elective non-emergency surgeries with zero consequences, eleven days after the Louisiana Department of Health has ordered all such procedures must be postponed! Why aren’t Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Health equally enforcing their emergency order? The only thing Louisianans can conclude is that our state intends to unequally enforce the stay-at-home order by closing down churches while allowing an abortion clinic to stay open! This … [Read more...]

Drive-in prayer gathering in Natchitoches lifts up medical personnel

By Message Staff NATCHITOCHES, La. (LBM) – In a show of Christian love and support more than 200 cars gathered in a parking lot across from Natchitoches Medical Center for an impromptu prayer vigil Sunday, March 29. The evening included music and a time for families to pray together in their vehicles, where they remained throughout the event, which took place at 8 p.m. A similar event is planned for Thursday, April 2, 6:45 p.m. outside Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Rapides Medical Center in Alexandria. Mike McGrath, minister to students and families at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches, led the opening prayer, which was prerecorded and played by organizers to honor the practice of social distancing. He was honored to rally around the local hospital and show them love and appreciation. “It was a special time for the hospital to see the community supports them, appreciates them, acknowledges that what they do matters significantly,” he said. “We as a community wanted to let them know we will continually lift them up in prayer during this unique and uncertain time.” Jason Womack, pastor of Goldonna Baptist Church, enjoyed the evening of prayer with his family and other Christ followers. “My wife and I … [Read more...]

Louisiana Baptists to host virtual prayer meeting Thursday

By Message Staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists are invited to join Louisiana Baptists Executive Director Steve Horn and other state leaders for an online prayer meeting Thursday, April 2, at 7:14 p.m. The specified time is based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 -- if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. The event will be streamed on the LBC Facebook page. "This is a time for us to unite our hearts and our prayers," Horn said. "The writer of Hebrews [in chapter 4, verse 16] invites us to boldly approach the throne of grace so we can find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. "The need is now and I'm inviting all Louisiana Baptists to surround the throne with our petitions relating to the Coronavirus pandemic in our state and beyond."   … [Read more...]

DR feeding units, Baptist churches team up to feed the hungry in Lake Charles

By Message Staff LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) - A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding unit set up at Trinity Baptist Church has teamed up with members of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Lake Charles for distribution of food which is being funded by United Way, as part of Southwest Louisiana VOAD to provide meals for hungry school children, elderly and their families. According to Reggy Saxon, blue hat for the Carey Baptist Association disaster relief unit out of Lake Charles, the United Way notified the association that the Calcasieu Parish School Board had paused its feeding program Last week. The United Way offered to provide the food and asked if the disaster relief unit would find a way to cook and serve the meals. Since Friday, March 27, the disaster relief team has cooked 1,444 meals at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, and then transported them to Mt. Olive Baptist, whose congregation has helped team members serve meals to families through a drive-thru lane. Saxon said they plan to continue cooking and serving meals through April 10. He added that an additional feeding trailer arrived Sunday to accommodate the growing demand for meals, which began with 212 on Friday and increased to 512 on Monday. "We … [Read more...]